Flat iron stand



Nov. 2, 1965 Filed Jan. 28. 1963 1. o. RICO 3,215,379

FLAT IRON STAND I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q\ l I /a 84 20 -5 /6 2 /6/V46/0 0. z/aa INVENTOR.

Nov. 2, 1965 1. o. RICO 3,215,379

FLAT IRON STAND Filed Jan. 28. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,215,379 FLAT IRON STAND Ignacio O. Rico, 4401 Homer St., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Jan. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 254,152

I 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-117.2)

This invention relates to an improved fiat iron stand.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved fiat iron stand characterized in that it is completely safe in that it -will positively hold and support a flat iron in a safe position. Further objects reside in the realization of certain other characteristics in the flat iron stand. Among these is that the stand may be attached to any ironing board, the stand having a base member and spacer means whereby the heat from the iron cannot penetrate to the ironing board. A further characteristic which is realized is that the stand is collapsible to a substantially flat configuration; it can be easily picked up and carried, and it is provided with means whereby it can be hung up in collapsed position when not in use.

In the preferred form of the invention, it is constructed of material such as aluminum and is designed in such a way as to facilitate and make easy the fabrication and production of the stand.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a partial view showing the stand suspended from a peg or the like; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the stand in collapsed position.

Referring now more in detail to the various figures of the drawings, the stand comprises a base plate 10 which may be made from suitable material, for example, relatively thin gage aluminum. As shown, the plate 10 is rectangular in outline. Preferably along the side edges and the back edge the material is folded over to form a rib as may be seen at 12. At the front edge the material is bent up to form an upstanding part 14, the top edge of which is bent inwardly and folded over to form a flange or rib 16. Underneath the base member 10 there is provided a peripheral spacer or grommet 18 which is preferably formed of an insulating material or rubber or the like which spaces the stand from the ironing board 20. This material prevents the heat from the flat iron from being transmitted through the stand and the base member 10 to the ironing board.

The stand may be fastened to the ironing board 20 by means of a screw or bolt 22 and wing nut 24, the bolt passing through a center opening in the base member 10 and through an opening in the ironing board.

The flat iron is shown in outline at 30. In the use of the strand, it is in the position shown in FIGURE 2 with the iron supported in an angular position on a supporting plate 32. The plate 32 may also be made of material such as aluminum or the like. Preferably it has an outline or contour corresponding substantially to that of the iron. It has a peripheral rib 34 formed by a peripheral crimp in the edge of the plate. The plate 32 has a group of buttons or embossments 36 pressed upwardly out of the material so that when the iron is on the plate its bottom surface is spaced from the surface of the plate 32 to allow circulation of air between the iron and the plate. At the rear of the plate 32 there is provided an angle Patented Nov. 2, 1965 member 40 attached to it in any suitable manner. This angle member forms a holder for the rear part of the iron, as shown, to securely hold it in position.

The plate 32 is collapsible with respect to the base member 10 and in holding position it is erected to the position shown in FIGURE 2. At the rear the plate 32 is supported by a rod member 42 suitably attached to the base member 10. The rod 42 has upstanding parts 44 and 46, the ends of which are bent inwardly as shown at 48 and 50, these end parts being journaled in lugs or ears 52 and 54 suitably attached to or integrally formed with the angle member 40.

At an intermediate point the plate member 32 is supported in the position as shown in FIGURE 2 by a wire bracket member 58. This member has a transverse part 60 which in the erected position abuts against the upstanding member 14 at the forward end of the base member 10. It has legs 62 and 64, the ends of which are bent outwardly as shown at 66 and 68 and which are journaled in ears or lugs 70 and 72 secured to or integrally formed with a plate 74 secured to the underside of the plate 32 in any suitable manner. The extending portions 66 and 68 have further upwardly bent parts 78 and 80 which inv the erected position are located as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and form side supports or holders for the flat iron. Preferably in the erected position, the plate 32 forms an angle X of substantially 75 with the horizontal which has been found to be an optimum angle for the purposes desired. This angle is steep enough to prevent water from dripping out of the front filler opening of a steam iron although the iron is supported in very firm, stable position which is not realized if the iron is stood upright.

The stand may be detached from the ironing board by removing the wing nut 24 and bolt 22. The stand may be collapsed by swinging the support member 58 to the right looking at FIGURE 2 into a position lying directly under the plate 32. In this position the upstanding wire parts 78 and 80 come into a position as shown in FIG- URE 6. The plate 32 can then rotate about the wire support members 48 and 50 into a position as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The tapered front end of the plate 32 snaps under the flange 16 which forms a snap lock holding the parts in collapsible position, as shown in FIG- URE 6. The base member 10 has a keyhole shaped opening 84 in it, as may be seen in FIGURE 5, so that the stand in collapsed position may be suspended from a peg or the like, as designated at 86 in FIGURE 6.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that the invention achieves and realizes all of the objectives as stated in the foregoing and has all of the advantages enumerated as well as others which are apparent from the detailed description. The invention provides a simplified and effective stand which is easy and economical to fabricate and produce. It realizes the main desired advantage of providing a stand that is completely safe in that the flat iron is firmly supported in a position in which it cannot fail over or be knocked off or otherwise give rise to a dangerous condition. In this respect, the stand is completely stable and secures the iron against inadvertent removal. By reason of the spacing means between the bottom plate and the ironing board, the heat cannot be transmitted to the ironing board and thereby give rise to danger of fire or burning of the board. The iron itself is spaced from the plate 32 to allow air circulation between the bottom surface of the iron and this plate so that there is no undesired transfer of heat from the iron to the stand. In the erected position the iron is additionally held with respect to transverse movement by the holders 78 and 80. The stand is collapsible to a substantially flat configuration in which it may be hung up requiring a minimum of space.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

A flat iron stand comprising a flat base member adapted to be placed on an ironing board, the said base member having a peripheral grommet on the underside thereof made of heat insulating material to space the said member from an ironing board, said base member having upstanding hook means at the forward end thereof, a fiat iron holder member comprising a metal plate contoured to conform to the outline of a flat iron, said plate having a peripheral rib and having embossments therein whereby to provide space for air circulation between the plate and the flat iron, means to collapsibly support the said holder plate from the base member in a position at an angle with respect to the horizontal, said last means comprising a wire member having a transverse portion and extending legs, said transverse portion in erected position of the plate member being engageable with said hook means at the forward end of the base member, said legs having transverse end parts, means on the underside of said plate holder forming lugs having the end parts of said support legs journaled therein and said end parts having further bent portions positioned to form holders at the sides of said holder plate to restrain lateral movement of the flat iron, said Wire member being movable to a position for collapsing said holder plate toward said base member and said holder member having a forward end configurated to be latched by said hook means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,529,437 3/25 La Fon 248117.4 1,660,474 2/28 Bruckel 248-1l7.1 X 1,694,236 12/28 Schulthess 248-117.2 1,738,845 12/29 Rollman 248-117.3 1,966,036 7/34 Malamud 248-117.4 2,017,518 10/35 Wagner 45-80 2,142,191 1/39 Higgins 248117.2 2,466,825 4/49 Rollman 248117.2 2,473,731 6/49 Shepard 248-117.2 2,791,390 5/57 Grommons 248-1l7.2 2,867,362 1/59 Bloch 248-346 X 2,982,506 5/61 Allen 248-117.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,081,912 6/54 France.

491,366 8/38 Great Britain.

564,695 10/44 Great Britain.

129,863 1/29 Switzerland.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

